Meet Our New Cheetah Cubs

Meet Our New Cheetah Cubs

Public Viewing

The eight cheetah cubs and their mother have access to the public habitat in River's Edge at the Saint Louis Zoo during operating hours; however, there is no set viewing schedule. Bingwa and her cubs are exploring their habitat at their own pace and can choose if they want to come out or stay behind the scenes. Because the Zoo is dedicated to caring for animals, providing them with the option of privacy is an important part of their quality care.

Remarkable! Eight Cheetah Cubs

For the first time in Saint Louis Zoo history, a cheetah has given birth to eight cheetah cubs. The cubs, three males and five females, were born at the Saint Louis Zoo River’s Edge Cheetah Breeding Center on November 26, 2017. Mother and cubs are doing well and will remain in their private, indoor maternity den behind the scenes at River’s Edge for the next several months.

In over 430 litters documented by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), this is the first time a female cheetah has produced and reared on her own a litter of eight cubs at a zoo. The average litter size is three to four cubs.

First Months Are Critical

The first few months of life are critical for newborn cheetahs. The animal care staff are closely monitoring the family and it appears that all eight are healthy. Four-year-old Bingwa (pronounced BING-wah), which means “champion” in Swahili, continues to be an exemplary mother, according to the cheetah care team. She has quickly become adept at caring for her very large litter of cubs — grooming, nursing and caring for them attentively.

Bingwa and Jason

Bingwa is on loan to the Saint Louis Zoo from Wildlife Safari in Winston, Ore., and nine-year-old father Jason is on loan from White Oak Conservation in Yulee, Fla. The birth of these eight cubs is a result of a breeding recommendation from the AZA Cheetah Species Survival Plan (SSP), a program to manage a genetically healthy population of cheetahs in North American zoos.

We’ve brought together cheetahs from great distances to continue this important breeding program. These handsome cats add genetic diversity to the North American Cheetah SSP population.

Since 1974, the Zoo has been a leader in cheetah reproductive research and breeding. Over 50 cubs have been born at the Zoo’s Cheetah Breeding Center.

Saving Cheetahs

Historically, cheetahs have ranged widely throughout Africa and Asia. Today, fewer than 8,000 cheetahs inhabit a broad section of Africa and less than 100 cheetahs remain in Iran. Over the past 50 years, cheetahs have become extinct in at least 13 countries. The main causes of cheetah decline are human-cheetah conflict, interspecific competition and lack of genetic diversity.

Cheetahs are frequently persecuted for killing livestock. Our conservation partners are finding ways to improve the lives of local herders by providing education opportunities, food and medical supplies, so they can live peacefully with cheetahs and support their protection.

Meet Bingwa's Bunch

Here’s the storyof a lovely cheetahwho is bringing up eight very lovely cubs.All of them have hair of gold and now Swahili nameslike their motherand five of them are girls....All together with three boys and father Jason,that’s the way they all became The Bingwa Bunch.